Koss KPH14G Side Firing Headphone (Green)......

Shipped and packed well. Biggest issue is that they are way to big. I'm an adult an these are for grown ups with large heads. There should be some kind of notation on the ad. I wouldn't have bought them if there was. They came and work well. I just can't wear them at all.

I bought a couple of these headphones as a backup to replace any current pair I used. They usually don't last long because either wires or one "leg" of a headphone get broken off. When it happened a few days ago I pulled one of these Koss headphones and connected it to my laptop. Firstly I had to lower the volume on my laptop in half, the sound level was much higher than on any I used previously. But what surprised most was the sound quality - it was amazingly clear and rich for such a low priced product. The only time I had such a satisfying experience was with the Sony headphones I bought in mid 90-es and they were not cheap. Well, I am not a trained musician, I just love to listen to the music, so a musical expert might have a different view but an average music listener would be quite satisfied with the quality.

I worked for at a Frys electronics around 2002-2005 so the store discounts allowed me to buy the Sony MDR-W08L for around $7.00. one day i go a tip from my manager that sony was discontinuing the headphones and before the store opened he let me buy the left over stock of 22 at $6.00 for $140 he thought i was crazy but even as of 2023 the sony MDR-W08L are still the best running headphones ever made. now in 2023 im down to 9x still in box and 2x in various working conditions so im looking for an alternative, and the Koss is the closest to the sound quality of the original Sony; id say about 98% close to the sony headset quality; and they are affordable only draw back is they are uncomfortable, very little room for adjustment they grip right into your ears the SONXTRONIC Xdr-8000 are 2x the price but have the same feel and comfort of the original Sony mdr but plastic frame is brittle and the sound quality is no better than the Koss I really don't get this generation, i tried ear buds, you have to jam the things tight in your ear to stick. They either leave your ears sore or you end up loosing them. so take your pick, me i want a time machine back to 2003

Fit nice and snug. Great for running. I could see how they might be uncomfortable for many hours of wear. But fantastic for running. Sadly these broke after the third use. The photo of fracture plane, appears to be a void in the plastic. Im returning and have ordered a white replacement pair. Hopefully that color plastic will be stronger. Update: bought the white ones. They broke in an identical way (thankfully within the return window), snapped at the top. These are very brittle and will snap when opened any wider than your ears. I was trying to put them around my neck so opened them a little wider than my ears to clear them, I have a small head and was aware of the failure mode and was being careful, but they broke anyhow. If you choose to buy them be very careful, they are super delicate. I would recommend gluing on a curved strip of metal. Too bad because these are great otherwise. The tight fit is great for running. You could use them until try break they buy an new one and return the broken one. This is a major product flaw that needs to be fixed. I wish I could leave a second one star review for the white pair. Two different products should allow two reviews. Ill buy the next pair from the wifes account.

In addition to inventing the Walkman, Sony also (apparently) invented the side-firing/vertical/call-it-what-you-will headphone. These headphones stay in your ears (yes in, not over) without needing to be press-fit like corks in wine bottles. They became somewhat popular among exercisers decades ago, which may explain why the disappearance of the headphones is so vociferously protested: the more sedentary users of other styles of headphones have long since died. ;-) As someone who refuses to hang up his running shoes despite the protestations of his knees, I too was alarmed by the disappearance of Sonys side firing headphones. If needs be, I could run without running shoes, but without side-firing headphones? Horrors! For me, at least, the Koss KPH14 headphones are a perfectly adequate replacement. I do not know how the Koss headphones compare with the similar Sonys, nor do I think it is possible to make a comparison: over the years Sony would move the manufacture of their headphones from one exploited third world country to another such that the question Are the Kosses better than the Sonys? begs the retort Which Sonys and when?. Ive used the Koss headphones for a couple of years, and I have no complaints whatever about their sound quality. Im also totally satisfied with their construction quality. Despite using them at least -- or at most ;-) -- once a week for years, and often rinsing them after use, Ive only had two pairs fail. One failed after I drove forty miles with its cord accidentally dangling out of my car door and bouncing across the asphalt, and the second failed when I snagged its cord on an immovable object while I was moving. The Koss headphones do have two notable/questionable quirks. First is the very generous length of their cord. If the cord is too short for you, good luck with your basketball career. Second is the size of their headband. As has been mentioned numerous times by others, the headband adjusts from very small to small. As a person with a large head and short hair, I am just able to achieve a comfortable fit by gently bending the headband around its middle and thereabouts. Bending them without heating the plastic risks breaking them, but one grows cocky with practice. Wearing them without bending them would not be at all comfortable. Other than heating the headband a bit before bending them, I have not found the more extreme methods mentioned by others necessary. One difference on the Koss KPH14 headphones is its connector. Rather than use a straight 1/8 (aka 3.5mm, if youre a Commie ;-) connector, or a ninety degree connector, the Koss uses an approximately 45 degree connector. This is of no concern to me, but I thought it worth mentioning. Almost forgot: my recollection is that Sony made several different side-firing headphones with speakers of different diameters. The diameter of the speakers on the Sony MDR-W08 were, as I recall, of the smallest sizes produced. I have not measured them, but the Koss speakers are of a very similar size; possibly identical.